Reduced registration bonding template

Abstract

A dental template for positioning one or more objects on teeth of a patient is disclosed. The dental template can include a plurality of teeth-receiving cavities that further incldue occlusal surface that correspond to occlusal surfaces of teeth. The template can also inclue buccal surfaces that conform to buccal tooth surfaces. The buccal surfaces of the template can include openings to control placement of one or more objects on the patient's teeth.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dental template, the dental template comprising:
 a first plurality of teeth receiving cavities shaped to receive a first plurality of teeth of a patient, wherein the first plurality of teeth receiving cavities comprise occlusal surfaces corresponding to occlusal surfaces of the first plurality of teeth;   a second plurality of teeth receiving cavities shaped to receive a second plurality of teeth of the patient, wherein the second plurality of teeth receiving cavities comprise a planar occlusal portion spanning the second plurality of teeth, the planar occlusal portion having a continuous planar geometry comprising fewer occlusal features relative to a number of occlusal features of the second plurality of teeth and wherein buccal surfaces of the second plurality of teeth receiving cavities are configured to conform to buccal surfaces of the second plurality of teeth; and   one or more openings disposed on buccal surfaces of the second plurality of teeth receiving cavities configured to control placement of one or more objects on the patient's teeth.   
     
     
         2 . The dental template of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more objects comprise objects to be bonded to the patient's teeth. 
     
     
         3 . The dental template of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more objects comprise orthodontic brackets. 
     
     
         4 . The dental template of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more openings are shaped to locate each of the one or more objects at a predetermined orientation on the patient's teeth. 
     
     
         5 . The dental template of  claim 4 , wherein the predetermined orientation comprises a predetermined inclination and/or a predetermined angulation on the patient's teeth. 
     
     
         6 . The dental template of  claim 1 , wherein the dental template is indirectly fabricated. 
     
     
         7 . The dental template of  claim 1 , wherein the dental template is directly fabricated. 
     
     
         8 . The dental template of  claim 1 , wherein the dental template comprises a unitary polymeric body. 
     
     
         9 . The dental template of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more openings are shaped to control placement of one or more objects on the patient's teeth. 
     
     
         10 . The dental template of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of teeth comprises no more than four of the patient's teeth. 
     
     
         11 . The dental template of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of teeth comprises at least one central incisor. 
     
     
         12 . The dental template of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of teeth comprises at least two mirror-image molars. 
     
     
         13 . The dental template of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more openings are shaped and positioned to facilitate disposing bonding chemicals on the patient's teeth. 
     
     
         14 . The dental template of  claim 1 , wherein the occlusal surface of the second plurality of teeth receiving cavities comprises a simplified geometry relative to an occlusal surface of the patient's teeth. 
     
     
         15 . The dental template of  claim 1 , wherein the dental template comprises simplified representations of anatomical features of the second plurality of teeth of the patient. 
     
     
         16 . The dental template of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more openings are shaped to receive standardized orthodontic brackets. 
     
     
         17 . The dental template of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of teeth receiving cavities are shaped based in part on a digital scan of the patient's teeth. 
     
     
         18 . The dental template of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of teeth receiving cavities reproduces anatomical features of the first plurality of teeth of the patient. 
     
     
         19 . The dental template of  claim 1 , wherein the dental template comprises a thickness of about 0.02 inch to about 0.06 inch. 
     
     
         20 . The dental template of  claim 1 , wherein the dental template comprises a thickness of about 0.04 inch.